Southampton’s Jose Fonte Hands In Transfer Request

The BBC is reporting that Southampton captain Jose Fonte has handed in a transfer request to the club.

The 33-year-old Portuguese international, who has 18 months left on his contract at the club, told Southampton’s director of football Les Reed that he wants to “explore the opportunities for a transfer.”

“He’s had several opportunities to improve the contract situation. He’s reserved his right not to do that,” Reed claimed in an interview with BBC Radio Solent, the local BBC station in the Southampton area.

“He’s made it very clear he would like to explore the opportunities for a transfer.

“That’s where we are at the moment, Jose wants to leave the club. He’s formally asked for a transfer.”

Reed also confirmed that a formal bid has not yet been made for the veteran defender, who joined Southampton in 2010, making 288 appearances for the Saints in that time.

These revelations may come as a surprise as Fonte has previously claimed that Southampton did not offer a new contract.

Last month on Instagram, Fonte posted the caption: “Just to set the record straight I did not reject a new contract. In fact, I have been informed by Southampton that they are not offering me a new contract.”

But Reed has claimed that this is not the case.

“What was offered to Jose was, in my view, quite significant off the back of the contract he signed in October 2015.

“Six months later we were prepared to improve that contract and extend it. He has turned down the opportunity to increase his salary, and he’s turned down the opportunity to get another permanent year on his contract.”

Only time will tell what will become of Fonte, as a number of clubs including Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in signing the defender.